Today’s letters: Some Jews welcome United Church’s stance on Israel

Some Jews welcome United Church’s stance on Israel

Re: Political Stances On Israel, Pipeline Putting United Church At Risk, Aug. 15.
Rather than lamenting the turn to secularism in the United Church, most Canadians concerned with human justice welcome it. Too few mainstream Canadian institutions speak out against injustice either at home in Canada or abroad. The fact that the United Church supports a boycott of Israeli goods made in the illegally occupied West Bank and Gaza means a great deal to anyone concerned with social justice and human rights. I am Jewish and I welcome the United Church’s activism. Judy Haiven, Halifax.

Re: More Faith, Less Activism, editorial, Aug. 16.
The National Post condemns the United Church for proposing to boycott goods produced in the territories the Israeli army conquered during the war it initiated in June 1967. You warn that this “episode almost certainly will damage a once-positive relationship with Canada’s Jewish community.” Therefore, you confirm the old anti-Semitic canard about the alleged unity of opinion among the Jews.
Nothing could be further from the truth, particularly with respect to the state of Israel and its policies. In fact, Jewish communities (the plural is of essence) are split asunder by the question of Israel. Some support Israel, “my country right or wrong,” others are appalled by what that country’s leaders do, frivolously claiming to act on behalf of Jews all over the world. The episode with the United Church serves as another example of the polarization of opinions among Jews. This is normal and healthy.
Banning cucumbers from the West Bank or pretzels from East Jerusalem may not make a dent in the might of the Israeli army controlling the occupied territories. But it certainly provides moral support to those working to bring justice and peace to the Holy Land. This is what churches, synagogues and mosques are supposed to do. Yakov M. Rabkin, Montreal.

… some Christians deplore it

Re: More faith, less activism, editorial
My wife and I are proud Christians but admittedly attend church only about a half dozen times a year. When we do go, we attend a United Church north of Toronto to hear “God’s word,” to reflect and to sing hymns. Unfortunately, because of the direction the United Church has taken, my wife and I are now looking for a new denomination. My first indication there was a problem was about four years ago, where a petition was circulated through the congregation, urging the closure of Guantanamo Bay.
I angrily passed the petition along and we left. What did this have to do with practising our faith in God? Clearly, the United Church was on a political mission.
But what has ultimately ended it for us is the United Church’s on-going attack on Israel. That is nothing less than despicable, particularly in light of the multitude of human rights travesties that are occurring around the world.
We will no longer attend any United Church service. Brad Shaddick, Newarket, Ont.

As a former member of the United Church, I lament that the denomination has fewer members today than at church union in 1925. For decades, the leadership has focused on liberation theology, altering hymnal lyrics and promoting “alternative” lifestyles. Failure to follow God’s word has filled the pews and parking lots of other churches. I am part of this modern day “Exodus.” Ian Ball, St, Marys, Ont.

The ‘Muslim tide’

Re: There Is No Muslim Tide, Chris Selley, Aug. 17.
In the past, generations of immigrants seeking a better life in Canada were swallowed up into the general population across the whole of the Canadian landscape. As far as Catholic and Jewish immigrants, they took advantage of options not available to them in their homelands a form of integration took effect.
But this new immigration is completely different. These are immigrants that come from countries of a completely different culture, and some are loyal to a different set of laws, as laid down in their holy book. Some of these laws are not completely amiable relating to the other religions practised in Canada. This could be a factor in some of the Muslim back lash. Also when Canadians read of the turmoil in Muslim countries, it is only natural that they may have some misgivings of these latest immigrants.
This fear of Islamic influence will take generations to disappear . Arthur Rubinoff, Toronto.

Chris Selley’s article on the myth of the “Muslim Tide” is enlightening, and very needed. Unfortunately, the “Muslim tide” people are the same people who believe Barack Obama is a foreign Muslim. There is no way of convincing them. I want PQ leader Pauline Marois to read this. Heck, I’ll even translate it into French for her, while wearing my yarmulke. Ian Silver, London, Ont.

Photo freedom

Re: You Have The Right To A Camera, Karen Selick, Aug. 17.
As a professional photographer, I was delighted to see this column. The ability to photograph police activity is an important human rights safeguard for all of us and one that must be strongly protected. Unfortunately, the behaviour described in this article is a symptom of a much larger problem — the failure of many police officers to understand that their job is to enforce the law, not to make it up on the spot. Better training and improved screening to weed out applicants with authoritarian attitudes are required at all levels of law enforcement. Michael Visser, Toronto.

I resisted a call to arms

Re: The Rebel Executioner Who Worked At The Gap, Aug. 16.
It will be interesting to see how the Canadian government views this Yaman Hamoud, who was once part of the Free Syrian Army, given that he is implicated in what could easily be described as war crimes. Presumably, he is a Canadian citizen, so this raises some interesting questions about how far citizens can go in support of a foreign war without retribution from our government.
The story resonates with me because, in 1993, during the fighting in Kosovo, I was offered a commission in the Serbian Army. People there were interested in my technical skills. I was intrigued and turned the offer down with very great reluctance. As a far right ethno-nationalist, I was sympathetic to the Serbs and completely opposed to the policies of my own government and the views of the media at that time.
The crucial difference between the two cases is that the Free Syrian army is viewed favourably in the West, while the cause of the Serbian patriots was not. It would have made for an interesting experiment in legal versus extra-legal means of dealing with citizens who participate in foreign wars.
To this day, I’m sorry I didn’t go. John Purdy, Kirkland, Que.

Important books

Re: How I Put My Library On A Diet, Mark Medley, Aug. 11.
As I read this column, I immediately thought of my own experience with books and their power. My husband was an ordained minister, devoted reader and writer for four church papers. As instructed by his will, a year after his death I listed every book title and author on my computer file, packed up and brought his books to the places specified in his will — all 7,000 books.
People have said that when they have lost a spouse, half of them has gone. When my husband’s books left my home, then I felt that deep cut into my life and at that point, I knew he was gone from this Earth.
I am now building up my own personal library, and I don’t give two hoots how crowded my shelves are. Helen Tangelder, Strathroy, Ont.

Safe driving

Re: Let The Big Wheel Do His Own Driving, Peter Kuitenbrouwer,
Aug. 17.
I was recently diagnosed with a brain condition. The symptoms began last September and have worsened rapidly since. Now I can hardly speak and have serious stability problems. A month ago, I did the responsible thing and decided to give up driving. As Peter Kuitenbrouwer points out, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford does not have to go that far. But he needs to stop texting and reading while driving before somebody gets killed. He needs to do the the responsible thing also. Alun Hughes, Thorold, Ont.

In the wake of a Grammy Awards ceremony that disappointed many, from Kanye West to the masses on Twitter lamenting the state of pop music, a historical perspective is key. Few are better poised to offer one than Andy Kim.